Sleep disorder

Sleep disorder

The disturbance of normal sleep patterns caused by a broad range of illnesses, including dysfunctional sleep mechanisms, abnormalities in physiological functions during sleep, abnormalities of the biological clock, and sleep disturbances that are induced by factors extrinsic to the sleep process.

Industry: Health care

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Sleep disorder

zeitgebers

Health care; Sleep disorder

German for "time givers". External cues that affect the Circadian cycle. Examples include sunlight, familiar morning noises and sounds, and meals.

benzodiazepines

Health care; Sleep disorder

Group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants. First developed in the 1950's, these deugs tranquilize and sedate. They work by slowing down the activity of the central nervous ...

white noise

Health care; Sleep disorder

Heterogeneous mixture of sound waves extending over a wide frequency range that may be used to mask unwanted noise that may interfere with sleep.

arousal threshold

Health care; Sleep disorder

In scientific studies this is a parameter that measures how easily a sleeping person is awakened.

desynchronization

Health care; Sleep disorder

In the context of sleep studies and disorder diagnosis, the term refers to lack of alignment between external signals and the biological clock. The cause of many circadian disorders.